The sessions of the Commonwealth Youth Forum as well as the Commonwealth People’s Forum got underway on Monday.
The forums are being held in the run-up to the Commonwealths Heads of Government Meeting which is scheduled to begin on November 15.
Following a gala opening ceremony at the magam Ruhunupura International Convention Centre held on Sunday, sessions of the Commonwealth Youth Forum began at the same venue on Monday morning. The Youth Forum is being held under the theme Inclusive development stronger together.
Sessions of the Commonwealth People’s Forum being held under the theme Equitable Growth and inclusive development beyond 2015, began today in Hikkaduwa.
Sonali Wanigabaduge of Newsfirst reports from Hikkaduwa
“A large gathering including the Chairman of the Commonwealth Foundation, Rt. Hon. Sir Anand Satyanand and Co-Chairman of the Commonwealth People’s Forum Dr Lalith Chandaradasa were present for the Forum”
Dr Lalith Chandradasa, Co-Chairman – Commonwealth People’s Forum speaking on the occasion said:
” the sessions planned today will hopefully assist us in achieving real progress and finding common goals in our search to establish a sustainable future. The process will appear challenging at time and will require a strong spirit of cooperation and compromise, in-order for us to go forward.  I believe that we can achieve tangible results. ”
The keynote address was delivered by Dr Jamilah Mahmoud, on the role of civil society in the post 2015 development architecture ..
Dr. Jamilah Mahmoud, Founder – Malaysian Medical Relief Society
“one of the main problems with the MDGS  is that  there is so much focus on goals with  not enough emphasis on getting the foundations right. This includes processes and frameworks that build the enabling environment for people and nations to achieve their true potential and a sustainable to………………………………..poverty. there is a strong and disproportionate demand for goals when we have still someway to go towards building a really solid foundation. If we are to be honest with ourselves we need to ensure that we do not fall into the same trap when finalising the post-2015 sustainability goals.”
 

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